The Collection of Teddy and Arthur Edelman
Pioneers in the design industry, Teddy and Arthur Edelman began their careers together at Fleming-Joffe, the family leather tanning business owned by Teddy’s father. The couple met while students at Sarah Lawrence College and would spend the next sixty-six years together. Fleming-Joffe was the leading supplier of high-fashion leathers to designers and served as the launching pad for Teddy and Arthur’s company, Edelman Leather. The Edelmans had a keen eye for design and recognized the talent of Andy Warhol in the early 60s, hiring him as a graphic designer at Fleming-Joffe. Edelman Leather was founded in 1981 with the goal of providing luxury leather upholstery to architects and interior designers with a focus on the revival of long-forgotten artisan techniques that produced furniture of the highest quality. Warhol designed the iconic poster ‘This chair is upholstered in Edelman Leather’ that would distinguish the brand until it was sold to Knoll in 2007.
The Edelmans taste and style extended to their personal collection in their home at Alligator Farm, in Ridgefield, CT, where an eclectic mix of Old Master Paintings, Art Nouveau pewter and mid-century modern furniture created playful interiors. Stair is pleased to offer Property from the Collection of Teddy and Arthur Edelman in a series of single owner sequences beginning with our sale on September 7 (lots 31-78). Highlights include Art Nouveau decorative arts, Japanese and European prints, and works from Tiffany Studios. As the name of their home implies, the Edelmans had a penchant for reptiles and a selection of reptile-themed ceramics pays homage to Alligator Farm and the legacy of Edelman Leather.
